LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls prediction: Mason Porter-Brown faces the LIU program he left in FAU's opener
Both rosters were rebuilt over the summer, and the former Shark who hit Florida Atlantic's exhibition game-winner is the link between them.
| Spread | Florida Atlantic -11.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 153.5 |
- FAU's transfer-built backcourt should control a game between two remade rosters, while LIU leans on newcomers who filled modest scoring roles elsewhere.
- Mason Porter-Brown against his old program: he shot 40.4% from three off LIU's bench last season.
- FAU is -10.25, up from -10 when our feed first saw it; last season FAU's adjusted net rating ranked 120th, LIU's 207th.
A former Shark in Owls colors
Mason Porter-Brown spent last season as a reserve on an LIU team that won the NEC. Tonight he opens the season against the Sharks in a Florida Atlantic uniform, fresh off beating The Citadel 71-70 with a three at one second left in FAU's exhibition finale.
He was a specialist for LIU, scoring 7.8 points a game and hitting 40.4% of his threes in a bench role. That shooting is what FAU needs from him. He knows the coaches across the floor and the system Rod Strickland runs, though almost none of the players he practiced against are still there.
That is the real story of this opener. Neither team's 2025-26 numbers describe the group taking the floor, so this is a game to read through people rather than team ratings.
FAU's backcourt is borrowed
John Jakus brings back only 13.5% of last season's minutes. The core holdover is Kanaan Carlyle, who averaged 14.3 points and shot 85.4% at the line last season, and who made four threes against The Citadel.
Around him, FAU went shopping for guards who carried teams. Braeden Speed arrives from Loyola Maryland after scoring 15.3 points a game on 36.5% three-point shooting. Jelani Hamilton comes from Georgia State, where he averaged 17.8 points and made 88.4% of his free throws. That is three high-usage scorers who all finish at the line, which matters if LIU has to foul late.
The cost is size and rim protection. FAU ranked 15th nationally in block rate last season, but Devin Williams, who blocked 2.5 shots a game, is now at Seton Hall. The newcomers are almost all guards, so the interior defense that defined last season's Owls is an open question.
LIU starts from scratch
No team in this matchup turned over more. LIU returns 1.2% of last season's minutes and 0.4% of its points. Jamal Fuller, who scored 16.2 points a game, is gone, along with Greg Gordon, Malachi Davis and Jomo Goings, the four starters who powered a 24-11 season that ended with a 58-92 NCAA Tournament loss to Arizona.
Strickland's replacements came mostly from secondary roles. Josh Pickett started for Presbyterian and took 121 threes, making 34.7%. Justin Johnson came off Western Carolina's bench but used 24.2% of possessions while on the floor, the profile of a player who wants the ball. Kamari Jones adds guard depth from Cleveland State.
There is one early sign of life: LIU won its exhibition at UMBC 86-77 on Oct. 11. No lineup or injury details from that game have surfaced, and neither program has reported any availability issues heading into tonight.
Where the number sits
Florida Atlantic is a 10.25-point favorite at home, a touch higher than the -10 our feed first recorded. The total sits at 153.5, down slightly from 154.
The only full-season ratings available are last season's final ones. FAU finished with an adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions better than opponents, adjusted for schedule) of 4.7, 120th nationally. LIU finished at -3, 207th. With so little of either roster back, that gap is a loose guide at best; the bigger edge is that FAU's transfers produced more at their previous stops than LIU's did.
What to watch:
- Whether Speed, Hamilton and Carlyle share the ball or take turns.
- How Porter-Brown's shooting holds up against his former coaches.
- Who protects the rim for FAU without Williams.
- Whether Johnson becomes LIU's go-to scorer.
LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls line movement and odds
| Book | Sharks ML | Owls ML | Sharks spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +500 | -700 | +11.5 (-115) | o154.5 (-115) |
| BetRivers | +475 | -715 | +11.5 (-118) | o153.5 (-115) |
| DraftKings | +500 | -700 | +10.5 (-102) | o154.5 (-110) |
| ESPN BET | +500 | -800 | +11.5 (-115) | o154.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | +525 | -750 | +11 (-115) | o154 (-110) |
| FanDuel | +570 | -850 | +11.5 (-110) | o153.5 (-110) |
| Hard Rock Bet | +475 | -700 | +11.5 (-115) | o153.5 (-115) |
| Caesars | +500 | -700 | +11 (-110) | o154 (-110) |
Where the money is on LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls
On the Kalshi moneyline: LIU Sharks: 71% of bets, 45% of the money; Florida Atlantic Owls: 29% of bets, 55% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Florida Atlantic Owls -12.5: 40% of bets, 79% of the money; LIU Sharks +12.5: 60% of bets, 21% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 153.5: 42% of bets, 85% of the money; Under 153.5: 58% of bets, 15% of the money.
LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls stats (this season)
| Stat | LIU Sharks | Florida Atlantic Owls |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 106.0 (220th of 365) | 110.3 (147th of 365) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 109.0 (168th of 365) | 105.6 (109th of 365) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | -3.0 (207th of 365) | 4.7 (120th of 365) |
Key players
- Kanaan Carlyle (Florida Atlantic): The lone major returner averaged 14.3 points last season and shot 85.4% from the line.
- Braeden Speed (Florida Atlantic): Scored 15.3 points a game last season with a 120 offensive rating.
- Jelani Hamilton (Florida Atlantic): Averaged 17.8 points last season on 29.8% usage.
- Mason Porter-Brown (Florida Atlantic): Shot 40.4% from three for LIU last season and hit FAU's exhibition game-winner.
- Josh Pickett (Long Island University): Started 27 games last season and made 34.7% of his threes.
- Justin Johnson (Long Island University): Averaged 6.7 points in 15.6 minutes last season with a 24.2% usage rate.
- Kamari Jones (Long Island University): Shot 78.3% from the line last season while scoring 4.3 points a game.
Numbers that matter
| LIU returning minutes | 1.2% | Almost nothing from last season's NEC champions is back, so last season's team stats say little. |
|---|---|---|
| FAU returning minutes | 13.5% | FAU also rebuilt, but kept Carlyle and added proven transfer scorers. |
| FAU spread | -10.25 | Up slightly from -10 when our feed first saw the game. |
| Total | 153.5 | Down a hair from 154 first seen. |
| Porter-Brown 3-point % | 40.4% | His shooting off LIU's bench last season is what FAU wants against his old team. |
LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls: quick answers
Who is favored in LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls?
Florida Atlantic is favored by 11.5 points (Florida Atlantic -11.5).
What is the over/under for LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls?
The total is 153.5 points.
When is LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
Where is LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls played?
Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, Boca Raton, FL.
Has the line moved for LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls?
Yes: LIU Sharks opened +10 and is now +11.5, and the total moved from 154 to 153.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on LIU Sharks vs Florida Atlantic Owls?
On the Kalshi moneyline: LIU Sharks: 71% of bets, 45% of the money; Florida Atlantic Owls: 29% of bets, 55% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Florida Atlantic Owls -12.5: 40% of bets, 79% of the money; LIU Sharks +12.5: 60% of bets, 21% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 153.5: 42% of bets, 85% of the money; Under 153.5: 58% of bets, 15% of the money.